Directions: Annotate and highlight portions of the text as indicated below. I will check these annotations for a completion grade. Additionally, be prepared to answer any questions; these will form the basis for the test and any pop quizzes.
1) Describe the narrator. What do we learn about him from the beginning of the story?
2) The characters in "Araby" are unnamed and shadowy figures. Why would Joyce choose to leave the characters unnamed? How does point of view inform the story?
3) Highlight (or otherwise identify) descriptions of Mangan's sister--what sort of imagery is used to describe her?
4) What is "Araby"? Why is the narrator obsessed with going there? Highlight (Identify) images associated with "Araby."
5) "Araby" ends with an epiphany, like many of Joyce's stories, but there is debate over what the narrator's epiphany actually is. What is his epiphany? What are the sources of his anger and anguish?
6) Highlight (ID) references to sight/blindness and light/dark--how do these motifs inform the story?
7) ID any motifs or references to the narrator's Quest. What is his Quest (what is he desiring to do)? What is the result of his Quest? How is this ironic?
ex. Theme statement for "Araby": When a young, preadolescent boy encounters failure in his quest to win the affection of a woman in a situation in which the woman showed superficial and feigned interest in him the result may be that the young man sees through her feigned interest and realizes the futility of his pursuit, thereby feeling "anguish and anger" as a result of his new self-knowledge
John Updike, "A&P"
1) Analyze Updike's use of point of view. From what point of view is the story told? What do we know about the narrator? How does Updike use the narrator's language to characterize him? (ID examples in the text)
2) What is the narrator's attitude towards women? Young women? Older women? (ID examples)
3) What is the narrator's epiphany? How does this compare/contrast with the epiphany of the narrator from "Araby"?
4) One themes in this story has to do with the idea of the choices we make in our lives and the consequences that follow them. Examine the choices and consequences that the characters in this story make (Sammy; the girls; Lengel).
5) Another subject of the story has to do with a young man's (Sammy: 19 years old) coming-of-age. Do some quick online research to find out what (or whom) "The Fisher King" is. Now, consider that several of the items in the grocery store are called by names that serve as motifs in the story; notice the line "Queenie puts down the jar and I take it into my fingers icy cold: Kingfish Fancy Herring Snacks..." (410). Knowing what the Fisher King represents, how does Updike use this motif in this story?
6) Compare/contrast Updike's use of literary devices and structure as well as this story's themes to those present in "Araby". How are the stories and style similar? Different?
7) Try to write a Theme statement for "A&P" using our formula. Write this out on your handout and bring it to class.
Ernest Hemingway, "Soldier's Home"
1) How has the war changed Krebs's attitude toward work? Toward women (highlight examples)?
2) What are the conflict(s) in this story?
3) Look at the excerpt where Krebs reads the new history (yes--that's an oxymoron) books written about the war that he fought in. How does he react to these? How does this reinforce any of the conflicts and themes in the story? (Highlight this section)
4) Do you notice any other motifs in this story? If so, ID them and explain what/how they reinforce.
5) How is the title of the story ironic?
6) It could be argued (I will argue it) that Krebs has an epiphany at the end of the story. What is his epiphany? Do you think his resulting decision will have positive or negative consequences?
7) This story portrays a character who likely suffers from PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder). However, when Hemingway wrote this story (published 1925; PTSD first diagnosed in 1980), that diagnosis did not yet exist. Do some brief research on the symptoms and causes of PTSD; which of these symptoms (and/or causes) fits Krebs's characterization?
8) Try to write a theme statement for "Soldier's Home".
Short Stories
Directions: Annotate and highlight portions of the text as indicated below. I will check these annotations for a completion grade. Additionally, be prepared to answer any questions; these will form the basis for the test and any pop quizzes.James Joyce, "Araby"
1) Describe the narrator. What do we learn about him from the beginning of the story?
2) The characters in "Araby" are unnamed and shadowy figures. Why would Joyce choose to leave the characters unnamed? How does point of view inform the story?
3) Highlight (or otherwise identify) descriptions of Mangan's sister--what sort of imagery is used to describe her?
4) What is "Araby"? Why is the narrator obsessed with going there? Highlight (Identify) images associated with "Araby."
5) "Araby" ends with an epiphany, like many of Joyce's stories, but there is debate over what the narrator's epiphany actually is. What is his epiphany? What are the sources of his anger and anguish?
6) Highlight (ID) references to sight/blindness and light/dark--how do these motifs inform the story?
7) ID any motifs or references to the narrator's Quest. What is his Quest (what is he desiring to do)? What is the result of his Quest? How is this ironic?
ex. Theme statement for "Araby":
When a young, preadolescent boy
encounters failure in his quest to win the affection of a woman
in a situation in which the woman showed superficial and feigned interest in him
the result may be that the young man sees through her feigned interest and realizes the futility of his pursuit, thereby feeling "anguish and anger" as a result of his new self-knowledge
John Updike, "A&P"
1) Analyze Updike's use of point of view. From what point of view is the story told? What do we know about the narrator? How does Updike use the narrator's language to characterize him? (ID examples in the text)
2) What is the narrator's attitude towards women? Young women? Older women? (ID examples)
3) What is the narrator's epiphany? How does this compare/contrast with the epiphany of the narrator from "Araby"?
4) One themes in this story has to do with the idea of the choices we make in our lives and the consequences that follow them. Examine the choices and consequences that the characters in this story make (Sammy; the girls; Lengel).
5) Another subject of the story has to do with a young man's (Sammy: 19 years old) coming-of-age. Do some quick online research to find out what (or whom) "The Fisher King" is. Now, consider that several of the items in the grocery store are called by names that serve as motifs in the story; notice the line "Queenie puts down the jar and I take it into my fingers icy cold: Kingfish Fancy Herring Snacks..." (410). Knowing what the Fisher King represents, how does Updike use this motif in this story?
6) Compare/contrast Updike's use of literary devices and structure as well as this story's themes to those present in "Araby". How are the stories and style similar? Different?
7) Try to write a Theme statement for "A&P" using our formula. Write this out on your handout and bring it to class.
Ernest Hemingway, "Soldier's Home"
1) How has the war changed Krebs's attitude toward work? Toward women (highlight examples)?
2) What are the conflict(s) in this story?
3) Look at the excerpt where Krebs reads the new history (yes--that's an oxymoron) books written about the war that he fought in. How does he react to these? How does this reinforce any of the conflicts and themes in the story? (Highlight this section)
4) Do you notice any other motifs in this story? If so, ID them and explain what/how they reinforce.
5) How is the title of the story ironic?
6) It could be argued (I will argue it) that Krebs has an epiphany at the end of the story. What is his epiphany? Do you think his resulting decision will have positive or negative consequences?
7) This story portrays a character who likely suffers from PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder). However, when Hemingway wrote this story (published 1925; PTSD first diagnosed in 1980), that diagnosis did not yet exist. Do some brief research on the symptoms and causes of PTSD; which of these symptoms (and/or causes) fits Krebs's characterization?
8) Try to write a theme statement for "Soldier's Home".